About the Author
"The Monkey and the Crocodile" is a folktale from the NCERT "A Pact with the Sun" textbook for Class 6. Like many folktales, it doesn’t have a single author because it has been told and retold by people for many years. This story comes from the Panchatantra, a collection of ancient Indian stories that teach life lessons. The NCERT team has written it in simple words for students like you to enjoy and learn from.
What’s the Story About?
This is a fun and clever story about a smart monkey and a crocodile who learns a big lesson. It’s set near a river where a monkey lives happily in a tree full of sweet fruits. Let’s dive into the story in simple words.
Once, a monkey lived in a big tree by a river. The tree was loaded with juicy red fruits, and the monkey ate them every day, swinging from branch to branch. He was happy and carefree. One day, a crocodile came out of the river and rested under the monkey’s tree. The monkey, being kind, threw down some fruits for the crocodile to eat. The crocodile loved the sweet taste and thanked the monkey. They started talking and soon became good friends.
The crocodile came back every day for more fruits and chats. He even took some fruits home to his wife, who lived on the other side of the river. The crocodile’s wife loved the fruits but got jealous. She thought, “If the monkey eats such sweet fruits, his heart must be even sweeter!” She wanted to eat the monkey’s heart and told her husband to bring the monkey to her.
The crocodile was shocked. He didn’t want to hurt his friend, but his wife kept nagging him. Finally, he agreed to trick the monkey. The next day, he went to the monkey and said, “My wife loved your fruits and wants to meet you. Come to our home across the river. I’ll carry you on my back!” The monkey, trusting his friend, climbed onto the crocodile’s back, and they started swimming across the river.
Halfway across, the crocodile couldn’t keep the secret anymore. He told the monkey, “My wife wants to eat your heart because she thinks it’s sweet like the fruits!” The monkey was scared but stayed calm. He thought fast and said, “Oh, I wish you’d told me earlier! I left my heart in the tree. Take me back, and I’ll get it for your wife.”
The crocodile, not very smart, believed the monkey and swam back to the tree. As soon as they reached the shore, the monkey jumped off and climbed high up into the tree, safe from the crocodile. From there, he shouted, “You silly crocodile! Who leaves their heart in a tree? I tricked you to save myself. We’re not friends anymore because you tried to hurt me!” The crocodile felt ashamed and swam away, realizing he had lost a good friend because of his wife’s greed and his own foolishness.
The story ends with the monkey safe in his tree, and the crocodile learning that betraying a friend is wrong. It’s a lesson about trust, cleverness, and the consequences of greed.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Monkey: A smart and kind animal who lives in a fruit tree by the river. He tricks the crocodile to save himself.
- The Crocodile: A friendly but not-so-smart animal who becomes the monkey’s friend but tries to trick him because of his wife.
- The Crocodile’s Wife: A greedy and jealous character who wants to eat the monkey’s heart and pushes her husband to betray his friend.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Big Ideas in the Story):
The story talks about friendship, trust, and cleverness. It shows how greed can ruin good relationships and how being smart can help you escape danger. It also teaches us to think carefully about who we trust.
Moral (The Lesson):
Don’t betray your friends for selfish reasons. Greed and dishonesty can break trust, but being clever and kind can help you stay safe.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story, explained in simple, everyday words for you.
| Word or Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Juicy | Full of sweet liquid, like a ripe fruit you bite into. |
| Carefree | Happy and without worries, like playing all day. |
| Rested | Took a break or relaxed, like sitting under a tree. |
| Chats | Friendly talks with someone, like sharing stories with a friend. |
| Jealous | Feeling upset because someone has something you want. |
| Nagging | Asking or telling someone to do something again and again in an annoying way. |
| Trick | To fool someone by making them believe something that’s not true. |
| Trusting | Believing someone is good and won’t harm you. |
| Swam | Moved through water by using arms, legs, or body, like a fish. |
| Scared | Feeling afraid or worried about something bad happening. |
| Calm | Staying relaxed and not panicking, even in trouble. |
| Ashamed | Feeling bad or guilty for doing something wrong. |
| Betraying | Breaking someone’s trust by doing something bad to them. |
| Foolishness | Acting silly or not thinking wisely, leading to mistakes. |
| Consequences | The results or outcomes of what you do, good or bad. |